This Notice originally appeared in the September 1968 NET Program Guide, announcing the show:

On Thursday, September 12, at 9:00 PM, Channel 13 presents the first in a series of 39 one-hour programs entitled SOUL!, devoted entirely to and aimed at the metropolitan area’s black community.

The format of SOUL! resembles some of the popular late night programs – segmented, lively, informative and entertaining.

Appearing on the show will be top stars and up-and-coming young talents from the black community. There will also be pertinent features dealing with all aspects of the social, cultural and artistic life of the black population.

During the course of the year SOUL! expects to have as its guests such people as: Cannonball Adderley, Muhammad Ali, Amanda Ambrose, The Associations, Oscar Brown Jr., James Brown, Billy Eckstein, Richie Havens, The Impressions, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, George Shirley, Nina Simone, Jo Simon, The Supremes, Irwin C. Watson, Marion Williams, Nancy Williams. (Not all of these performers actually appeared on Soul!-ed)

Music for SOUL! will be provided by a live orchestra. The show will be in color and have the added excitement and spontaneity of a studio audience.

The second program in the series will be Thursday, September 26, at 9:00 pm. Starting October 10, SOUL! will be seen every week on Thursday night at the same hour.

This series is being made possible by a special grant from the Ford Foundation under its Project for New Television Programming.

SOUL!, an entertainment-talk program aimed at the Black community premiered on Thursday, September 12th 1968, at 9:00 pm.

See select archival episodes of SOUL! at any time and the PBS documentary premiere of Independent Lens: Mr. SOUL!, about host Ellis Haizlip, on February 22, 2021 at 10 p.m.